CASE Europe Leadership Award
The CASE Europe Leadership Award celebrates a CASE member institutional president or CEO for outstanding efforts in promoting and supporting education and institutional advancement.
CASE celebrates the leadership, innovation, and impact of professionals from different lived experiences. As in all its initiatives, CASE values inclusivity, and therefore, the Individual Achievement Awards actively seek the broadest possible set of nominations from institutions and individuals across the globe.
To be considered for this award, nominees must meet the following requirements:
- Institutional CEO, system head, or trustee (current or retired) for a CASE member institution.
- Institutionally Related Foundations or self-governed alumni association CEOs and trustees are not eligible for nomination.
- Current members of the CASE Regional Councils are not eligible for nomination.
- Self-nominations will not be accepted.
Dame Nancy Rothwell
Dame Nancy led The University of Manchester as President and Vice-Chancellor for 15 years, stepping down on 31 July 2024.
During her tenure, the University raised £273M in philanthropic income received and £250M in new funds committed to support world-leading research, capital projects and life-changing scholarship programmes. Dame Nancy has championed philanthropic initiatives which have significantly impacted Manchester’s growth and success, including the creation of the Alliance Manchester Business School; the extension of Manchester Museum and the Whitworth Art Gallery; the addition of a visitor centre to Jodrell Bank Observatory, which led to it being awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
She has also committed her time to fostering strong and enduring relationships with the University’s community of stakeholders from its local community to international alumni, placing social responsibility at the heart of the institution’s strategic mission. She has regularly visited groups across the globe, celebrating the contribution that alumni make to the student experience and social responsibility agenda. And she has encouraged the flagship School Governors Initiative, with more than 350 staff and over 1,000 alumni becoming school governors in a range of educational settings.
Dame Nancy has taken every opportunity to elevate the University’s profile, communicating its achievements to a broad, public audience nationally and internationally. This has included delivering the Royal Institution Christmas Lecture, launching a community festival and supporting a Royal Society of Biology annual children’s drawing and painting competition in her name!
Philippa Hird, the University of Manchester’s Chair of the Board of Governors said: “Dame Nancy has a rare blend of creativity and strategic acumen. Her tireless dedication, exceptional leadership, and remarkable achievements makes her an ideal candidate for this Leadership Award. Her ability to inspire support, be it through philanthropy, volunteering or advocacy, sets her apart as a true leader in our field. And she has done all this while still maintaining an active research career with some of her major discoveries now being translated into clinical benefit. This award honours her individual accomplishments and also highlights the importance of visible leadership both within universities and in the broader community.”
CASE Europe Distinguished Service
The CASE Europe Distinguished Service Award celebrates the work of individuals whose professional accomplishments have made a significant and lasting impact and whose life and character have earned the respect and admiration of their peers, inside and outside their own institution/organisation.
CASE celebrates the leadership, innovation, and impact of professionals from different lived experiences. As in all its initiatives, CASE values inclusivity, and therefore, the Individual Achievement Awards actively seek the broadest possible set of nominations from institutions and individuals across the globe.
To be considered for this award, nominees must meet the following qualifications:
- From a CASE member institution or Educational Partner or retired from a CASE member institution.
- Made significant contributions to CASE through volunteer service.
- Current members of the CASE Regional Councils are not eligible for nomination.
- Self-nominations will not be accepted.
Liesl Elder
Liesl Elder directs the University Development Office, overseeing philanthropic fundraising for the University across the academic divisions, museums and libraries. Her teams work worldwide, including the University’s offices in Hong Kong and Tokyo. She came to Oxford in in 2011 to lead the Oxford Thinking Campaign, managing its relaunch from a £1.25bn to a £3bn campaign, and seeing it though to a successful conclusion last year. The Oxford team won the 2020 CASE Platinum Award for Best Practice in Fundraising.
Liesl has worked in educational fundraising since 1993, beginning her career at the US liberal arts colleges Carleton College and Oberlin College before serving as Campaign Director for Santa Clara University in California. She moved to the UK in 2004 to become Director of Development and Communications at Durham University, followed by a few years in Scotland as Director of Development at the University of Edinburgh.
Iain More Award for Emerging Fundraising Professionals
The CASE Europe Iain More Award recognises the outstanding achievements of an emerging development professional who has made a significant impact early in their career while demonstrating CASE's values, including innovation, professional excellence and collaboration.
CASE celebrates the leadership, innovation, and impact of professionals from different lived experiences. As in all its initiatives, CASE values inclusivity, and therefore, the Individual Achievement Awards actively seek the broadest possible set of nominations from institutions and individuals across the globe.
To be considered for this award, nominees must meet the following qualifications:
- Work in a CASE member institution in any European country.
- Have worked in fundraising roles for less than five years.
- Current members of the CASE Regional Councils are not eligible for nomination.
- Self-nominations will not be accepted.
Antonia Sauvain
Antonia is the Development Manager, Office of Development and Alumni Relations (ODAR) at the University of Southampton and the 2024 Iain More Emerging Fundraising Professional Award Winner.
Martin Bojam Emerging Marketing and Communications Professional Award
This award recognises the outstanding achievements of an emerging Marketing and Communications professional who has made a significant impact early in their career while demonstrating CASE's values, including innovation, professional excellence and collaboration.
The CASE Emerging Professional Award for Marketing and Communications is named in memory of Martin Bojam, who dedicated himself to mentoring and elevating others within the communications and marketing field.
CASE celebrates the leadership, innovation, and impact of professionals from different lived experiences. As in all its initiatives, CASE values inclusivity, and therefore, the Individual Achievement Awards actively seek the broadest possible set of nominations from institutions and individuals across the globe.
To be considered for this award, nominees must meet the following qualifications:
- Work in a CASE member institution in any European country.
- Have worked in marketing and/or communications roles for less than five years.
- Current members of the CASE Regional Councils are not eligible for nomination.
- Self-nominations will not be accepted.
Alex Petrovic
Alex is the Digital Content Officer at the University of Brighton and the 2024 Martin Bojam Emerging Marketing and Communications Professional Award Winner.
Emerging Alumni Relations Professional Award
This award recognises the outstanding achievements of an emerging Alumni Relations professional who has made a significant impact early in their career while demonstrating CASE's values, including innovation, professional excellence and collaboration.
CASE celebrates the leadership, innovation, and impact of professionals from different lived experiences. As in all its initiatives, CASE values inclusivity, and therefore, the Individual Achievement Awards actively seek the broadest possible set of nominations from institutions and individuals across the globe.
To be considered for this award, nominees must meet the following qualifications:
- Work in a CASE member institution in any European country.
- Have worked in alumni relations roles for less than five years.
- Current members of the CASE Regional Councils are not eligible for nomination.
- Self-nominations will not be accepted.
Matteo Lai
Alex is the Alumni and Supporter Engagement Officer at Durham University Business School and the 2024 Emerging Alumni Relations Professional Award Winner.